Director of School Support and Communications
Dejah Behnke joined Schulman, Lopez, Hoffer & Adelstein, LLP in April 2026 and serves as the Firm’s non-attorney Director of School Support and Communications. She provides strategic and operational support to nonprofit, school, and corporate clients in the areas of school operations, grant management, compliance, and communications. Her work focuses on advisory services, client engagement, and crisis communications, supporting both legal and non-legal initiatives in collaboration with firm leadership.
She supports clients in navigating regulatory environments, including state agency engagement and compliance matters, and supports and leads project management efforts for grant and contract initiatives, charter applications, and renewal processes. She also contributes to fiscal compliance reviews, research and analysis, and the development of systems to track performance, training, and program outcomes.
In her communications role with SLHA Advisory Services, Ms. Behnke supports the development and execution of public relations strategies, including crisis communications and reputation management. She works closely with firm leadership and clients to develop messaging strategies for sensitive matters, manage crisis response efforts, and deliver training to ensure organizations are prepared to respond effectively in high-pressure situations.
Ms. Behnke brings more than 15 years of extensive C-suite-level experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, grant management, board governance, and communications, with a particular focus on education systems and mission-driven organizations. She led multi-state expansion initiatives across Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Louisiana and raised $200+ million in philanthropic and federal/state grant funds for schools, and contributed to the creation of more than 40,000 new public charter school seats in Texas.
Prior to this role, Ms. Behnke founded PACE, LLC (Professional Advanced Consulting for Education), where she advised public charter schools, traditional public schools, and nonprofit organizations on strategic growth, governance, fundraising, and executive leadership. Her background in public relations and consulting includes developing high-impact communication strategies, securing media placements, and guiding organizations through complex organizational and reputational challenges.
Ms. Behnke is known for her ability to manage complex projects, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and deliver thoughtful, data-informed solutions that support organizational success.
Education
University of Texas San Antonio (B.A. in Public Policy, Cum Laude, 2009)
*Ms. Behnke is not licensed by the State Bar of Texas. She is a non-attorney technical advisor working under the supervision and direction of the firm’s attorneys as appropriate.